1st LD: EU, Balkan leaders seeking cooperation on tackling migrant crisis

The European Union (EU) and Balkan countries are seeking to further cooperation on tackling migrant crisis at a mini summit held here on Sunday.

The extraordinary meeting, called by EU's chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker, was attended by leaders from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, as well as concerned refugee organizations.

The mini summit came ten days after a full meeting among EU leaders during which they agreed to deepen cooperation with Turkey to stem refugee flow and enhance border control.

The countries of the Western Balkans are facing an unprecedented influx of transiting migrants. From the region, migrants proceed northwest to other EU countries, particularly Austria and Germany, where they applied for asylum.

The escalating migrant crisis also continued to pose threats to Europe's passport-free policy. Several frontline countries have threatened to close borders if other European countries stopped accepting migrants.

Juncker called for solidity during an interview with German newspaper Bild published on Sunday, urging member states to stop transferring migrants to neighboring countries. He stressed that refugees were in urgent needs amid more severe weather conditions.

"Today we need dialogue and discussions between Balkan leaders to avoid possible unnecessary misunderstandings in the region," said European Council President Donald Tusk upon his arrival at the meeting.

Tusk said that from the very outset of this crisis he had underlined the importance of protecting EU's external borders, adding that he was "satisfied today that there is a shared view amongst us that the priority must be to protect our external borders".

"I am fully aware of course that this is not simply because of my arguments, but more as a result of the very dramatic and serious developments on our borders. This is why today's meeting is very important," Tusk said. Endit